By By STEVE FRANKLIN, Staff Writer
WILLIAMSTON — Stephen Pearson and Faith Hardison have carried Williamston’s golf team all season long.
Wednesday afternoon was no different.
Pearson and Hardison earned the top two medalist spots — shooting 75 and 83 respectively at Roanoke Country Club— to lead the Tigers to the 2008 Atlantic Conference Championship.
Williamston edged out Northside for the team title, 346-356, while Southside was a distant third, shooting 484.
Pearson’s individual championship was the Williamston senior’s second straight Atlantic Conference Championship. Last year he won the event with a 79.
It’s just a great feeling. I don’t know how to describe how happy I am right now,” Pearson said. “I was the top medalist, but it’s also great because we won the team championship. It’s been a great day.”
After starting out the back nine with a 3-over par 40, Pearson turned around and shot a 1-under on the front nine, including a chip out of the bunker on hole No. 3 that resulted in a spectacular eagle.
Hardison also had a terrific round, turning in an 83 on a soggy Roanoke Country Club course.
Braxton Squires finished with a 90 for the Tigers, while Josh Roberson shot a 98 and Ryan Kennedy added a 109.
Williamston will move onto the East Regional Championships on May 5 at Cardinal Country Club in Selma. But the Tigers won’t be alone. Although they were the only team to qualify from the Atlantic Conference, they’ll see some familiar faces on the Cardinal course as virtually the entire Northside team earned berths to the regional event by claiming the conference’s four individual spots.
Jared Adams, Josh Keel, Nick Peele, and Dan Woolard will all move onto the regional.
The Panthers and Tigers have gone back and forth as the No. 1 team in the conference with each team winning three times in six head-to-head events leading up to Wednesday’s conference championship.
But on Wednesday, the Tigers edged the Panthers on the greens.
Adams led the Panthers yesterday afternoon, shooting an 85. He was followed by Keel (88), Peele (90), Woolard (93), Aaron Adams (97) and Stephen Cody (98).
Southside was led by Zach Taylor’s 103 and Derek Henderson, who shot a 112.
The top three teams and top tree individuals from the May 5th regional will move onto the NCHSAA 1A State Championship at Keith River Hills Country Club in Buies Creek on May 12 and 13.
Williamston believes they’ve got an opportunity to make it to the state championship as a team.
Team Scores
Williamston (346) — Stephen Pearson 75, Josh Roberson 98, Braxton Squires 90, Faith Hardison 83, Ryan Kennedy 109. Northside (356) — Jared Adams 85, Dan Woolard 93, Josh Keel 88, Nick Peele 90, Stephen Cody 98, Aaron Adams 97. Southside (484) — Zach Taylor 103, Derek Henderson 112, Jessica Taylor 136, Trace Woolard 143, Justin Wheaton 133.